Lake Diefenbaker recently earned itself some pretty high praise as a top ice fishing destination.
According to a recent listing by Fishing Booker, the lake is amongst the nine best ice-fishing venues in Canada, coming in at number five.
Vanja Polovina, an outreach NPR specialist for Fishing Booker, explained that Lake Diefenbaker had to meet a host of criteria, including quality of the fish, variety, accessibility, surroundings, and recreational opportunities.
"Lake Diefenbaker is widely known for its exceptional fishing quality and variety of fish," said Polovina. "Particularly during the winter months, especially since it's one of Canada's largest artificial lakes."
Lake Diefenbaker also stood out for having an abundance of entry points, campgrounds, and boat launches. Its surroundings are described by Polovina as 'vast' and 'open', giving the lake a 'serene and peaceful' quality.
Of course, it really comes down to the fishing itself.
"Ice fishing is especially exciting due to the size and diversity of fish available, such as giant walleye, monster pike, and perch and burbot," said Polovina.
A big part of being recognized outside the fish was the availability for camping during the winter. Being ranked for ice fishing means that easy access to campsites, hiking trails, and snowmobiling options will leave those less interested in catching fish with plenty to do otherwise.
The choice to elect Lake Diefenbaker isn't solely based on any one opinion. The decision is backed by data Fishing Booker takes from the Government of Saskatchewan, via tourism boards, customer feedback and reviews, and fishing regulations.
If anyone is curious about booking a full fishing trip, with a guide and venue, they can utilize Fishing Booker to help make the planning easy. Whether it's on a local lake or out at sea, they angle the advantage to the customer to ensure a great trip.
"We work with local captains to promote fishing and ensure that anglers can enjoy the best possible experience," said Polovina. "Regardless of their skill level."